Sally Kesler died November 16, 2019 at her home in the Cartoogechaye Community of Macon County. She was born in Lowell, West Virginia May 28, 1925 to parents Blake and Dorothy Gwinn Kesler who predeceased her as did her only brother, George Kesler. She described a childhood of a love of nature, living close to the earth in a rural and lovely setting along the Greenbrier River, and an appreciation of careful and exacting craftsmanship on the part of her father particularly.

Sally received her BA in Fine Art from Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University) in 1948. She went on to the Penland School of Crafts led both by her interest in weaving and by Helen Freas, a professor on campus and the niece of Lucy Morgan, founder of Penland School of Craft. Subsequently, she re-located to North Carolina to the Franklin area to teach crafts and support the work of the Rev. Rufus Morgan in his vision for a community health center and craft education center. She and her friend Frances Barr Cargill initiated programs in the community for children and adults alike. Although she enjoyed this work, she soon realized she needed and wanted to develop her own voice in art and have a career that would support her financially.

At Penland School she had met the screen printer and designer Emmy Zweybruck who told Sally that if she wanted to learn the craft of screen printing that she should apprentice with Pauline Granichstaden of Boston. Sally applied, was accepted, and spent two years under the guidance of Ms. Granichstaden at the Wellesley Art Studio.

In the 1950's, Sally returned to Cartoogechaye, a beloved community that reminded her very much of her home in West Virginia. She continued her work of teaching crafts, particularly weaving, and for well over fifty years welcomed weavers each week to learn the craft. Now an accomplished screen printer she was accepted into the Southern Highland Guild and for many years exhibited her prints and woven work at Guild fairs in Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville NC. Not only did she become well known for design and skill but also the addition of original poetry and prose to her pieces. Her commitment to the Nonah Craft Center led to its acceptance into the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild as an Education Center in 1955.

Other interests and passions soon led Sally to help found the Nantahala Hiking Club, to become a 4-H leader in the community and to work in community development. For many years she helped "publish" a community newsletter, "The Cartooge-Jay-Bird." She joined St. John's Episcopal Church, was church organist, and enjoyed gardening and landscaping the church grounds. A knowledgeable botanist and naturalist she also helped establish the Franklin area Greenway. Sally's great love for "little green growing things" kept her outdoors as much as possible, gathering old friends and new to ramble with her through the woods in search of the most elusive seasonal blooms.

Sally Kesler is survived by nieces and nephews Janlyn Fussell (Wayne), Susan Brooks (EM), Bob Kesler (Tara), Jim Kesler (Suzi), Buck Kesler (Deanna), and her sister-in-law Jeanne Kesler and many great nieces and nephews all of Virginia. The whole family gathered with many local friends and neighbors to celebrate her 90th Birthday in 2015 here in Cartoogechaye.

She leaves behind many friends, a community, and a church family at St. John's Episcopal Church who loved her very much and will miss her immensely.

A Memorial Service will be held locally at St. John's Church on Friday, December 6, 2019 at 11:00 AM with a reception following. Interment of ashes will take place in Lowell, West Virginia in the spring. Memorials may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 542 St. Johns Church Road, Franklin, NC 28734.

Many thanks to her caregivers: Michelle, Carolyn, Angie and Veronica and the staff of Four Seasons Hospice who made her last months peaceful and comfortable.

Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Condolences can be made to the family at www.maconfuneralhome.com